AFL off-field behaviour
Updated
AFL 2024
Powell’s social media posts revealed after homophobic slur
Gold Coast’s Wil Powell used homophobic language online before abusing a Brisbane opponent last Sunday, as prominent gay rights advocate Ian Roberts called for the AFL to invest more into anti-vilification education.
- by Andrew Wu, Marnie Vinall and Michael Gleeson
Latest
Ben Cousins won’t be part of the football hall of fame’s class of ’24
Former West Coast champion and skipper Ben Cousins will not be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2024 and is not considered likely to be added to the honour roll any time soon.
- by Jake Niall
AFL clubs wary of reputation damage in Tarryn Thomas decision
Of 11 AFL clubs who spoke to The Age about a potential return for Thomas, three said they were highly unlikely to offer him a career lifeline. Others will do their homework on the former Kangaroo who was suspended for threatening women.
- by Jake Niall, Michael Gleeson and Wendy Tuohy
The unravelling of former young AFL star Harley Balic
Interviews with Harley Balic’s friends and former teammates paint a picture of a complex young man who battled mental health problems and substance abuse. He is at the centre of a debate over the effectiveness of the AFL’s illicit drugs policy.
- by Michael Gleeson
Updated
AFL 2024
Finlayson ‘offended’ by suspension, ‘rethinks’ comments
Port Adelaide’s Jeremy Finlayson says he “should have provided more context” for comments he made on his wife’s podcast when he said he was pissed off at having been banned for three matches for making a homophobic slur.
- by Marnie Vinall
Former AFL star Sam Fisher admits to role in drug smuggling plot
The former St Kilda footballer is facing a significant stint behind bars after admitting his role in trafficking illicit drugs across the country hidden in a kitchen appliance.
- by Erin Pearson
Opinion
Drugs in sport
AFL and drugs: Beware the crackdown that becomes a crack-up
The AFL must be careful not to throw out the welfare baby with the tough-on-drugs bathwater.
- by Greg Baum
How Tarryn Thomas can go to any club, at no draft cost
Suspended midfielder Tarryn Thomas can be signed as a free agent by any club, bar North Melbourne, at the end of the 2024 season.
- by Jake Niall
Opinion
Drugs
Drugs aren’t just for tradies and ravers. Middle-aged, middle-class women do them too
All drugs can destroy lives, finances, relationships. But in the spirit of openness, let’s not lie. They’re fun, and therein lies the rub.
- by Kate Halfpenny
Opinion
AFL 2024
Think AFL drug cover-ups are common? Sorry to disappoint, but they’re not
Aside from the occasional rumour, during my AFL career I was never aware of a player being pulled on match day over a drug test during the week.
- by Brandon Jack
‘I’ve never seen that’: Swans deny any knowledge of AFL drugs cover-up
Coach John Longmire and chief executive Tom Harley – both former AFL players – have been quick to distance themselves from explosive claims made by federal MP Andrew Wilkie.
- by Malcolm Conn